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(11) | EP 0 756 913 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Method of welding a sensor bracket to an axle |
| (57) A sensor bracket for mounting an anti-lock braking sensor is welded to an axle with
a welding method that causes a portion of a bracket preform to be consumed to form
the weld joint. In one preferred embodiment, an outer end of a stem of the bracket
is formed of a material that will be made molten by an arc between the bracket and
the axle. A fluxing agent is preferably mounted on an extreme end of the stem to initially
ignite and clean the area on the axle, and further insure that the other portions
of the bracket will become molten. The method preferably includes supplying a current
through the bracket preform and bringing the bracket preform towards the axle. The
axle is grounded, and as the bracket preform is brought adjacent to the axle, an arc
is formed between the two. Outer portions of the bracket preform thus become molten.
A fixture for mounting the bracket preform continues to bring the bracket preform
towards the axle for a predetermined period of time. After predetermined period of
time, the current is disconnected. The bracket fixture continues to hold the bracket
against the axle such that the weld joint may solidify. The inventive use of a welding
method in which the bracket preform is consumed to secure the bracket preform to the
axle provides for a secure connection. Moreover, this welding method allows the use
of automated assembly techniques to secure the sensor bracket to the axle. |